[Winner!] TSL Replay Contest

There were some interesting replays sent to me, some with tense battles, all with relatively high entertainment value. However, there can only be one winner, and for a replay contest, the winning play should be something that would make Boxer himself blush and giggle. With that in mind, the choice was clear.

The Breakdown: A seemingly standard Terran opening deviates from the norm immediately after the Barracks is complete. The protoss, ignorant of the savage beating forthcoming, opens with a staple build of PvT, with a fast expansion and ranged Dragoons.

Seems innocent enough!

Okay, maybe not. Acad at 16?

Ninja's sense of style forces him to build an Academy after his barracks. A curious move, with a factory in progress and no sign of additional barracks. Academy and Factory finish, and two key upgrades begin research: Mines, and Optic Flare. Yes, Optic Flare. I'm sure you see where Ninja's going with this. So did I. I've seen a few replays of a FD or 2fac being supported by Optic Flare, but always with poor execution, or an approach to build order timings on that borders on reckless abandon. Let me tell you, I was in for a treat.

Seeing the factory complete, many scenarios ran through my head. The protoss chose a build that gave him a slightly delayed Observer. In time for a FD, no doubt, but this wasn't Gate-Core-Robo. One could expect a stronger push before expansion with the help of Optic Flare, or simply a safer expansion against Dragoon aggression, while opening Vulture for map control and harassment. How clever!

Speaking of clever...

Ninja's plan became more complicated as a Starport began construction. Is that... a Dropship? It is! Loading up with three Vultures and two Medics with critical new technology, Ninja flies out to the ignorant Protoss' base and the havoc begins. Ninja uses scan and Optic Flare to put Observers out of commission at a critical timing, allowing his Vultures to place mines in the Protoss base, forcing probe movement and frantic defense. Probes and Dragoons alike are fodder for an unbeatable army that a single Dropship can carry.

Mayhem ensues, Protoss panics. You cannot fight what you cannot see! Unless it unburrows and skitters toward you for a violent explosion.

What's especially interesting about this build is that Ninja is experienced with it, and it extends beyond the early game. Ninja has crafted this build to extend into midgame at an advantage, for a lategame win if the initial drop doesn't force an outright KO. Here's what he had to say:

Ninja4ever. wrote:If you manage to prevent any obs from entering in your main and manage to scout the forge and robo, most of the time you'll be able to snipe both (forge first so he can't spam canon in all his expand), giving you a big window where the toss has no obs (because you sniped them) and too few canons. you then proceed to abuse this fact and kill a ton of workers with cloak on.that's why the +50 mana first is important, as it gives an even bigger window to abuse.Then you abuse wraiths mobility to snipe forge and robo the most possible and you switch to bio/mecha if gets corsair.

This replay showed me something I have never seen before, which is exceedingly rare twelve years into the game's development.

Scoring:

Creativity: 5/5The only replay to score full marks on creativity. Kwark's submission using a Dark Archon rush to mind-control an overlord and bash a lurker force without robo tech comes close, but since it's an invention of GARIMTO (for the same purpose, in fact) & has been widely discussed here on TL, it's not enough to grab full marks. Ninja's build offered a completely fresh take on using Medics in TvP, something that all Terrans dream about, but oftentimes simply don't have the stones to expend so much resources in place of a FD or Siege CC build. I know I don't. Adding a dropship and hitting a timing window that is deceptively broad, with a complete follow-up plan, is the pinnacle of inventing your own ridiculous strategies.

Execution: 5/5With Scans on point and Optic Flare shutting down Observers long enough for Ninja's Vultures to deliver a swift deathblow, there was little room for improvement in how Ninja handled his build order. Both harassing and defending the inevitable Protoss Panic Counter (registered trademark of Scared Protoss Girls, Ltd), Ninja saw this through from start to finish, and it makes me wonder why there isn't a StarCraft replay exhibit at the Louvre.

Entertainment Value: 8/10It seems strange to punish Ninja simply because his opponent fell apart faster than a cartoon rabbit in a terrible Disney cartoon featuring a bobcat and a fat white guy with police badges. Kudos if you have any idea what I'm talking about. While I was certainly giggling my heartiest giggle, the game's a little short. However, the build itself is satisfactory in bridging the gap between this and a longer replay with more back-and-forth action. I want you to imagine T1 sends out Boxer against Stork in a Winner's League match tied at 3-3. Imagine seeing this build on TV, watching it unfold and kill a Protoss. That'd be a game to remember, and so is this. I strongly recommend downloading this replay and showing it to all your friends who think they are clever. I personally guarantee that Ninja4ever is the clevererest.

This TSL is sponsored by PokerStrategy.com, the world's largest poker school and community. With hundreds of Poker VODs and an assortment of learning material in 18 different languages, PokerStrategy.com offers the chance for aspiring Poker players to learn from a beginner to a professional level.

Yeah entertainment value in games in bw has always been somewhat inversely proportionate to how "good" the game is. Often the most entertaining games are entertaining because the players fucked up enough to allow a unique situation, or the better player fucked up and then spent the next 40 minutes making up for his normally lethal mistake, etc.

On March 05 2010 08:23 avaTar[ wrote:Screenshots on HBR and replay on python? Wrong link?

Its easy to check :-p (I dont know if replaydepot ever gets the map wrong or not)And its apparently indeed an other game. A nice one at that nonetheless, TvP with some ninja (:-p) expo into a crazy biomech+wraith pushedit: its replaced already, you guys are missing out :-p

And huge props to all the honorable mentions too, entertainment at its best.

Kwark does not disappoint, crazy push vs Mondragon himself, and great game."Do these things have drop?" :DDDDDDD (Kwark "inspecting" a stolen overlord)+ Show Spoiler +

Mondi drops him as an answer :-pand just wow. I cant believe how did he come back into this game either, let alone win it.

It's a cute strategy, but that Protoss was just awful. I can't help but feel the game was won in spite of his build rather than due to it; he would have won no matter how he'd have played with his opponent supply blocking himself at 25 and massing 700 minerals.

On March 05 2010 08:23 avaTar[ wrote:Screenshots on HBR and replay on python? Wrong link?

Its easy to check :-p (I dont know if replaydepot ever gets the map wrong or not)And its apparently indeed an other game. A nice one at that nonetheless, TvP with some ninja (:-p) expo into a crazy biomech+wraith pushedit: its replaced already, you guys are missing out :-p

And huge props to all the honorable mentions too, entertainment at its best.

Kwark does not disappoint, crazy push vs Mondragon himself, and great game."Do these things have drop?" :DDDDDDD (Kwark "inspecting" a stolen overlord)+ Show Spoiler +

Mondi drops him as an answer :-pand just wow. I cant believe how did he come back into this game either, let alone win it.

My macro was so bad that game But looking at it from an outside entertainment perspective it was the "good" outcome that Mondie somehow clawed it back. Was definitely epic, he deserved to win it.